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Canada proposes to phase down HFCs--powerful greenhouse gases

OTTAWA, Nov. 28, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada is a leader in the fight against climate change, both globally and at home. Earlier this month in Marrakech, Canada worked with nations from around the world to implement the Paris Agreement, which aims to keep the global temperature increase to well below 2 °C.

Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced the proposed regulations to reduce HFCs domestically. This measure would reduce Canada's annual consumption of HFCs by 85 percent, by 2036.

The proposed regulations would apply to the manufacture and import into Canada of HFCs and new products that contain HFCs. Canadians can continue to use appliances and products that they already own, and industries can continue to use up any existing HFC inventories.

Canada's HFC regulations would make common products used by all Canadians—such as refrigerators and air-conditioners—more climate-friendly. In addition, replacing HFCs with climate-friendly refrigerants and technologies could improve energy efficiency, leading to cost savings for consumers and businesses.

The proposed regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on November 26, 2016. Industry stakeholders and interested Canadians are invited to provide input to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Quote

"HFCs are among the most potent greenhouse gases emitted around the world. Canada is already a leader, globally, in efforts to phase down damaging HFCs from refrigerators and air conditioners. By working here at home to phase down Canadians' use of products containing HFCs, our government is taking real action to fight climate change. The measures announced today will reduce emissions ‎by the same amount as taking almost two million passenger vehicles off the road per year for 23 years."– Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

HFCs are the world's fastest growing source of GHGs, increasing by 10 to 15 percent a year.

Between 2018 and 2040, the proposed regulations are expected to result in a cumulative HFC reductions equivalent to 176 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. This reduction is like taking almost two million passenger vehicles off the road per year for 23 years.

Earlier this year, Canada finalized measures to increase the recovery, recycling, and destruction of HFCs in refrigeration and air‑conditioning equipment and established regulatory provisions for an HFC permitting and reporting system.

The global HFC amendment to the Montreal Protocol adopted last month, in Kigali, Rwanda, is predicted to avoid up to 0.5 °C of global warming by the end of this century.